Chapter 8
It was Asad's last holiday. He was on long holiday from his work for the past 2 months due to his wedding and all. And when the tsunami devastated his life, he extended his leave so that he can take care of Zoya. Having a bunch of good friends was really helpful for him in that matter. He knew if he wished to extent his leave, they will support him. But he didn't want to be a burden for them. Zoya was his sole responsibility and he didn't want anyone to help him anymore in that matter.
Asad decided to take Zoya to beach that day. He wanted her to give her a good time before his work again starts. He was waiting for Zoya near the door. When he couldn't find her he barged into her room impatiently. Zoya was sitting on the floor, her both hands supporting her chin, her eyes directed towards her open cupboard. He came into a halt seeing that. Confused, he slumped down beside her.
"What happened Zoya? Why are you not ready yet?"
She looked at him and pouted.
"Asu... I don't know what to wear..."
He chuckled seeing her expression. He got up and rummaged through her cupboard. After finding a knee length yellow floral frock he handed it over to her which she took with a bright smile. Giving her a sweet kiss on forehead he walked out of the room.
10 minutes passed, but still there was no news of Zoya. Shaking his head he again went inside the room. There was she standing in front of the mirror struggling with her hair. For a moment Asad was stumped. She looked really beautiful in that frock. The innocence and cute pout adorned in her face tenfold her beauty. He walked towards her in a trance. Taking the comb from her hands, he started neatly combing her hair. Taking a hair pin, he neatly pinned her bangs. Opening her ornament box he took out a yellow dangling earring and made her wear it. He took the Kajal he had brought for her and applied it to her eyes enhancing the beauty of those doe eyes. He stepped back and looked at her from head to toe. She was truly looking like an angel.
"Shall we go angel?"
She gifted him with a bewitching dimpled smile.
They walked through the sandy shore hand in hand. Zoya was jumping in excitement every time the waves kissed her feet. Asad guided her to a rock where they can sit. From there they could see the evening sun spreading his glory on the horizon. Soon Asad's gaze found a young couple by the shore. The boy had blindfolded the girl. She was waiting impatiently for his surprise while the guy was sitting on the shore and writing something on the sand. Curious, Asad craned his neck and looked at what he wrote. And it took him to memory lane. In the sand it was written,
"Will you marry me?"
It was the second year of college. Asad sat with Zoya in one of the classes. It was a boring class so he thought to speak with Zoya. But being the obedient girl she was, she was not ready to speak in class. So he tore away a paper from his book and jotted down something and passed to her. She read it and replied back. And thus started a conversation.
"Hey Zoya, don't study this much yaar. I am getting bored"
"This is not the first time you are getting bored. Grow up Asad. We have a test coming."
"You are such a spoilsport!!!"
"That I am..."
"Aargh... Are you even a girl? How can you ignore a handsome dude like me sitting beside you?"
"Asad..."
"Ok Ok. I am not disturbing you anymore..."
"That's like a good boy..."
Asad re-read her last reply and decided to irritate her more. So he took out her eraser and wrote down something and passed it to her. She took it with an annoyed look and turned to read it. Her face reflected shock and then it gave way to blushing. She read it again. Trying to mask the color creeping upon her cheek, she looked at him, her eyes shining. He chuckled seeing her expression and pulled her cheeks laughing. The color faded away from her cheeks and she let out a sad smile. To her luck the bell rang and everyone started going out. Grabbing this opportunity she excused herself and went away. Her eraser lay discarded on the table which carried his question to her.
"Will you marry me Zoya?"
Asad was broken out of his flashback by the loud whistling and clapping. He looked up to see the girl embracing the guy tightly with happiness while the onlookers hooted for them. His eyes then searched for Zoya and found her sitting on the sand creating sand castle. An instant smile spread in his face as he looked at her. In no time he found himself approaching Zoya and kneeling beside her. She looked up as she sensed his presence and gave him a heartwarming smile. Soon they both indulged in creating a spectacular sand castle.
They were walking back to their house when all of a sudden Zoya asked a question.
"Asu... Where is my Ammi Abbu?"
He looked at her tongue-tied. He was shaken by her question.
"Tell me na. Where is my Ammi Abbu?"
He inhaled a lungful of breath.
"Zoya, they had gone for a long vacation. Before you ask why they didn't take you with them, the answer is because of me. I am all alone na. So I requested them to make you stay back so that I can have a friend. They knew their princess is all grown up and se can take care of me."
He looked hopefully at her and found her twitching her nose as if to ask some other questions. Diverting her attention, he took her to the nearest park.
In the park they played for a long time. On Zoya's instance, he played hide and seek with her. it was real fun and Asad was laughing wholeheartedly at the end of it. They had ice creams, had fun at the various raids. Lastly Zoya saw a swing and insisted to go there.
She sat in the swing while Asad started swinging her. She was whooping in joy and giggling like a small kid. Asad took out his mobile and captured that heartwarming smile in it along with in his heart.
A call which came in his mobile diverted his attention and he walked a few yards away to speak. It was Imraan on the other side who was asking him about his leave status.
"Don't worry Imraan. I will be there tomorrow."
"I know that Asad. But... Actually..."
"What is it Imraan?"
"It's... It's about Jenny..."
Asad went rigid at the mention of her name. he closed his hands in a fist trying to control the anger.
"What about her?"
"Well, you know she is a partner in our firm... and technically we can't fire her. She had got court order which allows her to work with us. The bottom line of what I want to say is that, she is still very much a part of our company, even if we agree it or not. She will be there and you will have to face her... in a daily basis..."
Asad could hear Imraan's deep breaths through the phone. He was not unknown to this truth. He knew, he will have to face her one or the other day. But knowing that he will have to deal with her in a different light, gave him an uneasy feeling. She was still his wife as court will grant divorce only after one year. And he loathed himself for that. Jenny, the girl who was his world once now transformed into a girl whom he loathes a lot. She was his culprit and Zoya's culprit. She ruined his life and Zoya's life. He would forgive her for toying with him, but he can never forgive her for spoiling Zoya's life.
He was broken out of his thoughts by Zoya's screams. Startled he turned to look at her and what he saw made him freeze in his track in shock. After recovering the initial shock he ran towards Zoya who has fallen down form the swing. Her head was bleeding and there were some cuts in her knees and palm. She was crying in pain. He gathered her close in his arms. She snuggled closer to him and cried in pain. Her tears were pinching his heart. Scooping her in his arms he ran towards the nearby hospital.
While the doctors examined her shaking form for injuries, Asad drew soothing circles in her hand calming her and himself. He was shaken by the incident. He cursed himself for leaving Zoya unattended for a moment.
He flinched as he saw the doctor injecting her. She buried her head in his stomach as the needle pierced her skin. He kept patting her head trying to take away her pain. The doctor witnessed all these exchange with a slight smile in his face.
Asad and Zoya didn't left each other even for a second after that. They held each other close as if their world depends on that. He fed her dinner and gave her medicines. She was feeling weak and wanted to sleep. Understanding this, he scooped her up in his arms and walked towards his room balcony. Taking a big blanket, he took her in his arms again and sat down in the rocking chair with her on his lap. Her leg was kept over his thigh and she was curled into a ball as she slept on him. He spread the blanket around them and pulled her closer causing her head to fall on his neck. He inhaled her hair. He couldn't help but to drop a kiss on her shoulder. With a contended smile he rocked them to sleep.
Special
Is there anything in this world,
Which is soo special?
Some says love is special...
And some others says friendship is special...
If it is soo special,
Why there are broken hearts?
Why there are painful souls?
And why there are broken promises?
My mind is forcing me to think that
Those things are not special...
But my poor heart knows that
Those things are indeed special...
I guess it's the undying craving for it
Which makes those relations special...
It's the never lasting desire
Which makes those relations special...
And it's the broken hearts, painful souls & broke promises
Which makes it really special...
Bigg Boss 19
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
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